Gate latching device



P 1932- J. B. CLAY 1,876,856

GATE LATCHING DEVICE Filed April 16, 1951 Zmventor 375256 035. CZcZ Patented Sept. 1 3, 1 932 7 UNITED STATES TION, OF CEDAR FA IQ LS, IOWA GATE Lntromnefnnv'lonf Application. filed April 16, 1931. Serial No. 530,615

My invention relates to improvements in gate latching devices, and an object of my improvements is to provide latching means with a yieldable automatically acting catch for convenient operation. 7 I

Another object of my improvements is to construct and mount the latch and catch respectively upon a gate and post as usually installed in metal barn equipment with partitioning means or fences, and arranged as to be inoperable by animals thereby confined.

These objects I have accomplishedby the means which are hereinafter described and claimed, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of a metallic fence or barn inclosure having a gateway in which besides the usual end posts is swingingly mounted a gate provided with latching means for cooperation with an automatically acting catch on the head post. Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive are enlarged details of my invention, with parts removed or sectioned away, Fig. 2 being an elevation of the swinging hasp or latch bar on the gate as engaged with the improved catch on the head post; Fig. 3 being atop planof the same, and Fig. 4 being a side elevation of the weighted swinging catch only.

The numerals 1 and 2 denote the rear and head posts respectively of a gateway in a metallic fence or inclosure, but I do not limit myself to any particular type thereof. The metal gate 3 is supported to swing to and fro horizontally on the hinge elements or brackets 4 pivoted on the rear stile 5 and fixed on the rear post 1. Upon the middle vertical bar of the gate is fastenedthe bearing member 7 which is spaced to receive an end of a latch-bar 8 pivoted thereto to swing vertically, the bar extending thence across the forward part of the gate through another bearing member or keeper 10 and projecting beyond the gate to cross the head post 2 when the gate is closed. The latch bar has on its outer face a spaced hand loop 9 for manual use in opening or closing the gate.

The outer or free end of the latch bar 8 has a longitudinal slot 11 over a split sleeve 13 mounted on the post 2, and the loop 10 in- 60 closes the latch bar 8, limiting its swing.

The-split sleeve 13 on thehead'poSt'Q h a s a pair ofspacedoutwardly divergente'ars 14',

with inclined edges and i apertured to receive a pintlebolt 15' therethrough across theirinterspace and on which is suspended at its bearing'aperture18a catch'l6 havinga fingerpiece 17 and below on arms 19 a transversely spaced pair of'like discoidalweights 20, po-

sitioned at opposite-sides ofthe-post-Q out of contact therewith to swing freely and the- I Weigh'tsQO the angular catch 16 is normally engaged -'over the loweredge Ofthe slot 11 in the latclr'b'ar 8 when'the gate/is closed It will be seen that'the operator may re lease "the latch bar 8 easily by first pressing v down upon the fingerprojection 17 ofthecatch 16 to disengage the latter, and them lift/the bar by its looped part 9. In closingthe gate, the gate 'is-swung'towar'd the head post'2 so that the latch jb'ar 8, being raised by use of the finger-"loop; 9, may ride upwardly along the inclined edges of the ears- 14 and then'fdrop down behindthemin notchestherein far. enough for'theangu larcatch 16to engage in-the slot 11, and be; held there by the weighted disks'20 which embrace the post below the bar 8; v

A' cow or other animal cannotpoke down the finger piece 17 as it is inclosed between the narrowly spaced ears 14, and also cannot swing the weights 20 as they are close to the post and the adjacent gate stile 6.

This gate securing means is particularly useful in barn equ1pment inclosures for pens or compartments or otherwise, and is of inexpensive construction.

Having described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is: I

1. The combination with a swinging gate and a head post,- of a latch bar pivoted at one end on the gate to project therebeyond across the head post, a medially dentated yoke embracing said post with end weights substan- 9 tially below its detent .and pivotally mounted on the head post to engage said latch bar, to have the detent normally yieldingly keep said detent engaged with the latch bar, and means on said head post at opposite sides of said detent and extending therebeyond to serve as side guards therefor.

2. The combination with a swinging gate and a head post, of a latch bar pivoted at one end on the gate to project therebeyond across the head post, a split sleeve fastened upon the post therearound with terminal spacedapart outwardly projecting parts, a catch p 0- sitioned between said parts and pivoted thereto to engage said latch bar, and divergent arms depending from said catch to loosely embrace the post and having a weight on each tending to yieldingly hold the catch in engagement with the latch bar.

3. The combination with a swinging gate and ahead post, of a latch bar pivoted at one end on the gate to project therebeyond across the post, a catch pivotally mounted on the post to engage the latch bar, spaced ears fixed on the post at opposite sides thereof as guards for the catch, and a pair of depending yoked weights. on the catch embracing loosely the post to normally yieldably retain the catch in engagement with the latch bar when the Weights are in their lowermost position.

4. The combination with a swinging gate and a head post, of a latch bar pivoted at one end on the gate to project therebeyond across the post and have a terminal slot in its free end, a looped keeper on the gate embracing the latch :bar to restrict its scope of swinging movements. Asplit sleeve fastened on the head post having a pair-of spaced divergent apertured ears turned outwardly and with inclined upper edges, a catch having a pintle pivoted in the apertures of said ears and adapted to engage in the slot of the latch bar to lock the latter to the post, and divergent arms depending rigidly from said catch having discoidal terminals embracing the post loosely to normally keep thecatch in engagement with the latch bar.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOSEPH B. CLAY. 

